Tension for sewing-machines.



N0 $57,350:; I Patented Sept. 4, I900.

L. A. MLLER.

TENSEME FOR SEWING MACHINES.

(Applicatiqm filed Sept. 25, IBBQJ (No Muriel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Nb. 657,350. Patented Sept 4, I900.

L. A. MILLER.

TENSION FOB SEWING MACHINES.

(Application filed Sept. 25, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheata-$haet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFI-CE.

LEE A. MILLER, oF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO SAMUEL B.

FULLER, 0F WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN; MARY B. FULLER ADMINIS- TRATRIx 0F SAID SAMUEL B. FULLER, DECEASED.

TENSION FOR SEWING-MACHINES SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,350, dated September 4:, 1900. Application filed September 25, 1899. berial No. 731,589. (No model.)

useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines; I I

and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention consists in-certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts constituting a sewing-machine spool-thread tension mechanism and means for releasing the same, as hereinafter particularly set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, and subsequently claimed.

Figure 1 represents avertical longitudinal section of a portion of a sewing-machine head provided with my improved spool-thread tension and release mechanism; Fig. 2, a transverse section of the same on the plane indicated by line 2 2 in the preceding figure; Fig. 3, a detail plan view illustrating said tension and release mechanism partly in horizontal section; Fig. 4:, a detail horizontal section on the plane indicated by line 4: 4 in the first figure; Fig. 5, a detail elevation of the needle end of the sewing machine head partly broken, the face-plate being detached and certain parts not related to my present improvements omitted, the view being indicated by line 5 5 in said figure; and Fig. 6, adetail elevation illustrating the presser-foot lifter of said sewing-machine head at its greatest elevation in working contact witha lever constituting part of the means for releasing tension on the spool-thread.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A indicates a portion of the arm of a sewing-machine head provided with an upper elongate socket-bracket B, that constitutes a seat for a spool-thread pincer 0, this pincer being a strip of spring metal bent to form meeting jaws I), having their extremities turned outward in opposite directions clear of said bracket adjacent to a groove 0 therein. The socket portion of the bracket is provided with an inner lug d in-opposition to the spoolthread pincer back of its jaws. A screw D, engaging the bracket and pincer, is provided with a shoulder e, that bears against said pincer opposite the bracket-lug aforesaid and adjustment of the screw regulates the tension of the pincer-jaws b upon the spoolthread.

Trunnioned in a tubular vertical branch f of the socket-bracket B is a rocker E, provided with a wedge-shaped spur g, arranged in rear of the meeting jaws b of the pincer B to spread said jaws apart when the upper tuted for the hook.- The depending shank i of the rocker E is joined to a link-rod F, that has free play in-a solid portion of the machine-arm longitudinally of the same, and the other end of the rod is joined to an angular lever G, fulcrumed in said machine-arm and having its free end extended outward through a slot in the same to come in the path of the lifter H-for the pivotal presser-foot l of the machine when said lifter is swung in the direction necessary to the greatest elevation of said presser-foot.

The mechanism herein shown for actuating the rocker E or spool-thread tension-release is similar to what is shown in Patent No. 572,557 of December 8, 1896, and like in said patent I show the shank J of the resser-foot I provided with a rigid head-sleeve K, having a block extension or lug j, that is loose in a slot is in the vertical face of the machine- I arm, this lug being in opposition to the cam end of the pivotal lifter H, above specified. The adjustable spool-thread tension device herein set forth may be utilized independent a controlled spool-thread tension device yield 7 ing in opposite directions to knots or otherirregularities in the thread, and thus the latter will more readily feed through said ten sion device. The action of the tension-release mechanism being automatic and positive, work may bereadilyremoved from the sewing-machine or the bobbin Wound without taking the spool-thread from the needle.

vHaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters grooved socket-bracket, a bent spring-metal plateseated-in thebracket and constituting a spool-thread pincer having the jaws thereof expansible in the bracket-grove, and means forregulating tension of the pincer 2. In a sewing-machine the arm thereof grooved socket-bracket, a bent spring-metal "plate seated in thebracket and constituting ,aspool-thread, pincer having the jaws thereof expansible in the bracket-groove, an inner bracket-lug opposing the pincer back of its jaws, and a pincerand bracket engagingscrewhavinga shoulder opposing said pincer opposite said bracket-lug. v p 1 3 Ina'sewing-maehine the arm thereof provided withan upper elongate forwardlygrooved socket-bracket, a bent spring-metal plate seated in the bracket and constituting aspool-thread pincer having its jaws ex pansible in the bracket-groove, means for ,regulatingtension of the pincer, and other; means operative in conjunction with the,

aws 1 pres ser-foot lifter of the machine. to automatprovided with an upper elongate forwardlygrooved socket-bracket, a bent spring-metal plate seatedin the bracket and constituting a spool-thread pincer having the jawsthereof expansible in the bracket-groove; means for regulatingtension of the pincer, a rocker trunnio'nediin a tubular vertical branch of pincer -'jaws, a' shank depending from the rocker, an angularlever fulcrumed'inside the machine-arm and having one of its ends extending outward through a slot in said arm to come in the path of the presser-foot lifter and other end of said lever. provided with an upper elongate forwardly- 5. In a sewing-machine the arm thereof thread guide forming part of the rocker, and means'operative in conjunction with the presser-foot lifter of the machine to actuate said rocker. a

In testimony that IcIaimthe foregoing I ,havehereunto set my hand, at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, in the presence of two witnesses.

LEE A. MILLER.

' Witnesses:

N. E. OLIPHANT,- B. G. RoLoEE.

said bracket and providedwith 'a wedgeshapedspur arranged directly in rear of the 

